Cedar Rapids police arrest several on enticing minors charges

CEDAR RAPIDS — Police have arrested six people as part of an operation targeting people on social media who attempt to engage in sex with minors, according to the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

A seventh person was arrested as part of the operation, but he does not face an enticing charge like the others.

For the operation, police investigators created several spoof accounts on dating apps and websites and pretended to be underage.

Six of the people arrested as a result are charged with enticing a minor under 16 after, police say, they each sent sexual messages and attempted to meet with something they thought was a minor.

The people charged with enticing a minor are Coady Wayne Tallman, 33, of Cedar Rapids; Adam Russel Darling, 42, of Cedar Rapids; Aaron Justice Dicken, 29, of West Branch; Seton Kelly Smith, 48, of Hampton; David William Wren Jr., 55, of Cedar Rapids; and Scott Phillip Greenman, 50, of Cedar Rapids.

Tallman also is charged with two counts of telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor and a sex offender registry violation. Dicken also faces a sex offender registry violation charge. Greenman also is charged with dissemination of obscene material to a minor and interference with official acts.

Another suspect — Kenneth Merle Ruby, 43, of Cedar Rapids — was arrested in connection to the operation and charged only with a sex offender registry violation. All seven individuals were arrested between June 11 and 18. Another arrest is forthcoming, police said in a news release.

“Operations like this are a key component in CRPD’s ongoing efforts to provide a safe and secure community for all,” Lt. Tony Robinson of the Criminal Investigation Division said in a statement. “This kind of work isn’t often seen by residents until arrests are made public, but we are constantly engaged in efforts to hold criminals accountable for their actions.”

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